Related News
Home » Sports » Basketball
Howard agrees to US$125 million extension with Phils
Source: Agencies |
April 27, 2010, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
RYAN Howard agreed to a US$125 million, five-year contract extension yesterday that could keep him with the Philadelphia Phillies until 2017.
The slugging first baseman preferred securing his future in Philadelphia to testing free agency in two years - and certainly is getting his payday. He also felt loyal to the club that gave him his chance to reach the big leagues, saying, "That wasn't a very hard decision."
"It's a great feeling to have that security and know where you're going to be," Howard said. "I feel what I've been doing over the last couple of years, I feel pretty confident that down the road, I'll be right where I want to be and still doing the same things."
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. pulled off the deal that keeps the centerpiece of the Phillies' offense in place for the long haul.
"We just felt it was good timing for us," Amaro said. "We felt No. 1, he's one of the elite offensive players in the game. We could have waited another year and a half or so and dealt with it later on, but the fact of the matter is we decided he is that important to our organization and to our club and to our future."
The 30-year-old Howard will make US$20 million in each of 2012 and 2013 and US$25 million annually from 2014-16. The Phillies have a US$23 million club option for 2017 with a US$10 million buyout.
"This is a very good contract for him," Howard's agent Casey Close said. "The reason he felt the time was right was he loves his teammates, he loves the city. He wanted to be a part of something special for a long time to come."
The two-time All-Star led the Phillies to two straight trips to the World Series, winning a championship in 2008.
The US$25 million guaranteed average salary in the extension will be baseball's second-highest behind Alex Rodriguez's US$27.5 million average under a 10-year contract with the Yankees running through 2017.
Howard was happy to land a new deal now and avoid the craziness that would have come once he was eligible for free agency after the 2011 season, when he will be 32.
All-Star right fielder Jayson Werth was thrilled for Howard, but uncertain how this might affect his chances of staying put in Philly beyond this season. He has had preliminary discussions with the team about an extension, but said, "I think they've been busy with Ryan."
Werth is making US$7 million this year, the final season of his US$10 million, two-year contract.
Amaro said Howard's contract is structured to give the club flexibility to keep players like Werth and shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Rollins' US$8.5 million club option for 2011 was exercised in December. The 2007 NL Most Valuable Player is making US$7.5 million this year, the final season originally guaranteed under the US$40 million, five-year extension he signed in June 2005.
"Acutally we'd like to keep all those guys," Amaro said. "Hopefully we can keep this group together."
After being briefly stuck in the minors while Jim Thome manned first for the Phillies, Howard was the 2005 Rookie of the Year at 25, the same age A-Rod signed his first free-agent deal - US$252 million with Texas in 2001.
Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, is earning US$19 million this season as part of a US$54 million, three-year deal that pays him US$20 million in 2011.
He signed that deal in February 2009, avoiding a potentially contentious arbitration hearing.
"This is absolutely great," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We signed Ryan Howard quite a few years ago and that means we're keeping him. He's one of our guys, he is a Phillie. It's big for our team. That's what you set out for. He's very worthy of it. He is a great player and he is going to continue to be a great player for a while. Everything about it's good."
Howard hit .279 with 45 homers and 141 RBIs last season and entered Monday's game with three homers and 16 RBIs in 80 at-bats this April.
The slugging first baseman preferred securing his future in Philadelphia to testing free agency in two years - and certainly is getting his payday. He also felt loyal to the club that gave him his chance to reach the big leagues, saying, "That wasn't a very hard decision."
"It's a great feeling to have that security and know where you're going to be," Howard said. "I feel what I've been doing over the last couple of years, I feel pretty confident that down the road, I'll be right where I want to be and still doing the same things."
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. pulled off the deal that keeps the centerpiece of the Phillies' offense in place for the long haul.
"We just felt it was good timing for us," Amaro said. "We felt No. 1, he's one of the elite offensive players in the game. We could have waited another year and a half or so and dealt with it later on, but the fact of the matter is we decided he is that important to our organization and to our club and to our future."
The 30-year-old Howard will make US$20 million in each of 2012 and 2013 and US$25 million annually from 2014-16. The Phillies have a US$23 million club option for 2017 with a US$10 million buyout.
"This is a very good contract for him," Howard's agent Casey Close said. "The reason he felt the time was right was he loves his teammates, he loves the city. He wanted to be a part of something special for a long time to come."
The two-time All-Star led the Phillies to two straight trips to the World Series, winning a championship in 2008.
The US$25 million guaranteed average salary in the extension will be baseball's second-highest behind Alex Rodriguez's US$27.5 million average under a 10-year contract with the Yankees running through 2017.
Howard was happy to land a new deal now and avoid the craziness that would have come once he was eligible for free agency after the 2011 season, when he will be 32.
All-Star right fielder Jayson Werth was thrilled for Howard, but uncertain how this might affect his chances of staying put in Philly beyond this season. He has had preliminary discussions with the team about an extension, but said, "I think they've been busy with Ryan."
Werth is making US$7 million this year, the final season of his US$10 million, two-year contract.
Amaro said Howard's contract is structured to give the club flexibility to keep players like Werth and shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Rollins' US$8.5 million club option for 2011 was exercised in December. The 2007 NL Most Valuable Player is making US$7.5 million this year, the final season originally guaranteed under the US$40 million, five-year extension he signed in June 2005.
"Acutally we'd like to keep all those guys," Amaro said. "Hopefully we can keep this group together."
After being briefly stuck in the minors while Jim Thome manned first for the Phillies, Howard was the 2005 Rookie of the Year at 25, the same age A-Rod signed his first free-agent deal - US$252 million with Texas in 2001.
Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, is earning US$19 million this season as part of a US$54 million, three-year deal that pays him US$20 million in 2011.
He signed that deal in February 2009, avoiding a potentially contentious arbitration hearing.
"This is absolutely great," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We signed Ryan Howard quite a few years ago and that means we're keeping him. He's one of our guys, he is a Phillie. It's big for our team. That's what you set out for. He's very worthy of it. He is a great player and he is going to continue to be a great player for a while. Everything about it's good."
Howard hit .279 with 45 homers and 141 RBIs last season and entered Monday's game with three homers and 16 RBIs in 80 at-bats this April.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
